Editor's note: the article below is from the recent Parliamentary Committee on Estimates report (July 2014) which covers wide range of areas. We have extracted the article on fiscal decentralisation for ease of access. Some minor edits have been made for ease of reading.
The revised Decentralisation Policy was launched by His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata on 16th June, 2013. Fiscal Decentralisation is part of the broader framework of the revised Decentralisation Policy. It entails the devolution of some budgetary powers to the local authorities.
The quick research by the Committee revealed that the Governments of Kenya and South Africa have been implementing fiscal decentralisation. The achievements made as a result of the implementation of the policy in the two countries and indeed various literature, point to the fact that fiscal decentralisation enhanced the knowledge of local needs and preferences,which were specific to a locality, thereby, providing effective targeting of public services. Inaddition, it enhanced political and financial accountability as a result of greater citizens' participation, ownership and influence.
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